Keiki owner overturns Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel’s decision

Sam Morrell, owner of Keiki Early Learning Centre, has made a successful appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal, overturning the decision made by the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel in relation to her intention to replace two Kallaroo homes with a 75 place early childhood education and care (ECEC) service. 

The initial proposal at the corner of Mullaloo Drive and Stanford Road was refused 3-2 last year because of its residential location, the scale being incompatible with its surroundings and its access encouraging the use of Stanford Road.

The panel was also critical of the proposal noting that it did not consider the advice of the Joondalup Design Reference Panel in relation to height, bulk, scale, orientation and appearance.

After a mediation process, the revised $2.12 million plans reduced the capacity from 80 children and 16 staff to 75 children and 15 staff, and the operating hours from 6.30am to 6.30pm Mondays to Fridays to 7am to 6pm.

The latest proposal also increased the parking from 26 to 27 bays with the inclusion of a turnaround bay, relocated the bin store, increased setbacks to the south and east, enclosed the mechanical services on three sides, and introduced an archway to mark the entrance for pedestrians.

Despite the changes the City still recommended the application be refused, and neighbours continued to voice their concerns about traffic congestion, insufficient parking, noise, bulk, scale and the entrance archway being “something that belongs in an amusement park”.

Ms Morrell argued that the five other services she operates in Perth’s Northern Suburbs are uniquely designed and built to “fit in with the natural area” and had noise and operations plans to ensure they did not have a negative impact on neighbours.

In making the approval Panel presiding member Ian Birch said the success of childcare in residential areas was “reliant on the management of the centres” and “operators have the responsibility to be good citizens and good neighbours”.

To access the original coverage of this story please see here.